Handbag



w. H. CARROLL 2,603,266

HANDBAG 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @iii/ffl i W i m INVENToR. l// 4W /4/ IQ/PROM .,nWlu Wlninunnlllunununllnlvlulull July 15, 1952 Filed April 1e, 1949 `Fuly 15, 1952 w. H. CARROLL 2,603,266

HANDBAG Filed April 16, 1949 `3 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR. W/MQ/V /7- (k7/PPO@ Patented July 15, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDBAG William n. camu, Brooklyn, N. Application Apfni's, 1949, serial No. 87,9511

2' claims. (o1. 15in-2s) This invention relates to handbags of the boxA` like type carried by ladies either directlyv or by the use of a shoulder strap. This type is usually made of leather or generally similar material and has only a top opening so that therel is no danger of losing the contents when the bag is opened to give access to its interior. This open top is usually closed byfa nap or other top closure.

Ladies customarily carry a large numberrof personal things in this type of handbag'including coins, transportation fare tokens; store c'redit identication devices and other thingsy which the ladies frequently must retrieve in somewhat of a hurry. Since this type of handbag is designed to carry the various pieces and bits' of personal property in a jumble, itv normally vhappens that the coins and other devices mentioned have Worked their way to the bottom of the handbag when the lady desires to produce them. When she looks down into the handbag, the interior' is not only dark but the desired objects are hidden by others above them, all` of which makes-- it very dicult for the lady to pickl out what she is looking for. This sometimes causes her ema barrassment, particularly when others arewai-ting for her to transact her business. The' inci-` dental delay may also be a cause of annoyance to those waiting their turn behind the lady.

One object of the present' invention is to providey a handbag of this top open type and which will eliminate or greatly reduce the' ladys problem mentioned above without detracting from the handbags appearance orV rendering its enternal appearance unconventional.

Another object is to provide a' handbag' which generally adheres to the type mentioned', yet which permits the lady tof see what is" the bottoni of the handbag even thogh it may' beV concealed by higher objects from direct down- Ward observation throughl the mouth of the handbag'.

A further object is to provide a handbag att'afining these desirable objectives without iiitrodlylc-v ing manufacturing complications or making the construction t'o'o expensive to' comply with sound' merchandising economics'. u

Other objects may'be inferred from the follow#- ing:`

A specific example of a ladys handbag oftheY type described and embodying the features of* the invention is illustrated below' with the aid; of the accompanying drawings for the purposof explaining the principles andV operation of" the' invention. The principles of the invention may 2 be incorporated in' other forms than are used they case of this specific example once therprinc'iples and operation of the inventivev features are understood.

In the accompanying drawings: v o Fig. 1 is a front View of the handbag showing itsc'onventional exterior appearance andwith Aa srnall broken-away portion revealing details of the invention that are otherwise concealed; f

Fig, v2 is an end View of Fig. 1 with: the handbag closed;

the handbag open;` f y Y n Fig. 4 is a horizontal crossfsectin looking down in the handbag and taken from the line @-4 of Fig. 3; f f

Fig. 5 ,is an enlarged cross-section taken from the line 5f5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is thev same as Fig.V 5` ekcepting that' it shows a first modification;

Fig. 7 is'the same as Fig. 5 bu-t it shows a second modification; y

Fig. 8 again duplicates Fig. 5 exceptingthat it shows a third modinc'ation,V and Fig` 9 is a vertical cross-section of the handbagA showing the operational features of the` invention.

This illustrated handbag includes an` inner transparent front Wall I andv an outer non* transparent front Wall 2 having their bottoni` edges interconnected for hinge action and their en'd edges joined by non-transparent' bellows 3. These bellows 3 are adapted to permit the" outer Wall 2 to lie-v superimposed on and substantially in contact with thel inner Wall I and to swing therefrom far enougn to clear a line o f y sight transversely` downwardly through all' portionsjo'f' the transparent'innerwall'- I.l Other non-transl' parent walls comprising the end and bottom Wal-l piece orstrip 4 and a back wall 5 denne abonI`v like'A enclosure behind the transparent front vf'allr I adapted to contain thecustornar-y'collection offl articles; The back" Wall 5 is prolonged upwardly to provide aN top nap walll 6 adapted to close both`- the top ofthe enclosurel mentioned and tol entend therefromover both top edgesY ofthetwo fronti walls I and 2 and at least partially over the outside of the outer front'- wall- 2 i V b Exceptingf for the transparent f'ront'inne' wall I all of the- Wall parts includingv the bellows may belnad'e from any ofthe usualiV I'riaterial's custorn'arilyy used to maire a ladys-handba'g of type described'.` Natural orr synthetic leatheif orthe various plasticsl are all suitable" materials.

The junction between the edges of" the various" wall parts may be' secured together in any7 con# Fig. s'rdupil'cates Fig. 2 excepting mail it snot/s'.

venient fashion, the illustrative example using leather strand 'I handsewn over the adjacent edges. Proper precautions should be taken to insure an easy hinging action of the wall 2 so that it may swing away from the inner wall I. The material from which the bellows 3 are made should be relatively light-weight to facilitate swinging of the outer front wall 2 and to permit this wall to close very compactly against the inner transparent wall I.

Any suitable relatively stout transparent material may be used for the wall I. In the illustrative example, a piece of relatively thick Lucite is used. enough to see through clearly and without confusion. It should have adequate rigidity to support the collection of personal articles within the handbag without bulging outwardly -very much, if at all, when the wall 2 is swung outwardly, and it should preferably be unbreakable. Some of the tempered glasses produced by the glass industry may prove unbreakable to a satisfactory degree. The term unbreakable is used in the sense that the material should not be easily shattered in the manner an ordinary brittle glass plate might do.

As shown by Fig.'5, the transparent wall I may be secured to the end wall 4 and to the bellows 3 by the stitching 'I used to secure all the other wall edge 'portions together. This is the manner in which the illustrated example is constructed, it being an instance of an extremely high quality ladys handbag using the finest of handbag leathers and a relatively thick piece of Lucite with the leather strand 'I hand sewn to complete the assembly. This type of construction requires the drilling of holes through the edges of the transparent panel I and is not very appropriate for lower quality products.

With the above in mind, Fig. 6 shows the transparent panel I with its bottom and side edges reduced in thickness as at Ia to permit the necessary holes to be punched instead of drilled. Another step toward reducing the cost of the product is illustrated by Fig. 7 wherein as a second modification a strip of relatively thin plastic Ib is cemented to the side and bottom edges of the transparent wall I. This cementing may be done by actual cement or when the materials used permit it by the use of a common solvent for `the wall I and the strip Ib. With this construction, the plastic strip Ib may be made sufflciently pliant and thin to permit machine sewing methods to be used. Fig. 'I shows the same hand stitching as is used in the case of the highest quality construction but it is easy to see that, with the strip Ib made thin enough, it would be an easy matter to resort to machine stitching methods.

As a third and final modification, Fig. 8 shows the construction of Fig. excepting that the stitching 1 is replaced by a metal channel 'Ia which may be in the form of an open top U frame which is compressed by an adequately powerful press so as to frictionally grip the Wall I between other parts 3 and 4 which must be attached to it. Although the use of such a metal channel may be relatively inexpensive, it is at the same time adaptable to the manufacture of the highest quality products. As a matter of fact, the other modifications may also be said to be in the same category in this respect.

As illustrated by Fig. 9, the handbag may be provided wtih a bottom wall 8 which slants toward the transparent inner wall I. This may wall. Such a fastening may be needed to pre- It should be transparent vent the front wall 2 from falling forwardly 'inadvertently when the handbag is carried. It

is conceivable that the flap 6 may be provided with springy characteristics that would by spring tension retain it in position to prevent the wall 2 from falling forward. It is also possible to provide the wall 2 with a spring action that holds it in place against the wall I with the user pulling it forwardly when required and the spring arrangement snapping it back in position. Conversely, the wall 2 may be provided with an outwardly directed spring bias with the cover 6 retaining it in position against this spring bias. Withoutl such a spring bias, the wall 2 normally tends to fall forwardly when this is desired if the bellows 3 are provided with adequately ilexible characteristics.

In-operation, the lady places all of her usual personal paraphernalia in the handbag where it becomes jumbled in the usual fashion. When she Wants to get something out of the handbag, such as a coin for example, she merely unfastens the device 9 and lifts the flap 6. In the case of the illustrated example where flexible leather bellows are used, the outward non-transparent panel 2 falls forwardly easily. The bellows 3 should be designed to permit at least a 45 forward swinging of the wall 2 and preferably not more than about 60 forward swinging. These values are variable to some extent. The forward swinging must be adequate to permit the user to see clearly to the bottom of the handbag but it should not be so great as to result in bulkybellows or to make the handbag unduly conspicuous in its action.

With the front wall 2 swinging forwardly, the user can see clearly tothe bottom of the bag so that she can spot the coin or other article she 1s hunting for. The action is illustrated by Fig. 9 Where an elusive coin is shown nesting against the bottom of the transparent wall I where it has been guided by the slanting or sloping bottom 8. Being in plain sight, it is easy for the lady to retrieve the coin or other object by reaching down into the top of the handbag 1n the usual fashion between the walls I and 5. It is to be noted that the wall I forms the actual Working wall -of the handbag and embraces the entire front of the device. The outer front wall 2 functions as a cover for the wall I.

Upon the handbag being reclosed, the transparent wall or panel I is completely concealed so that the handbag has the usual conventional appearance; Furthermore, the wall I is completely protected from dust, dirt or grit which might otherwise obscure -its transparency. Many of the most suitable materials as represented by Lucite and materials of similar characteristics have a relatively soft surface which is easily scratched by abrasive grit or dust. This harmful action cannot occur with the present invention due to the complete protection afforded the material.

Although the invention has been emphasized as applicable to ladies handbags, it is, of course, applicable to handbags used by anyone when the design is of the box-like type adapted to carry various articles in a jumbled condition. However, it is particularly in the ladies handbag field that the advantages are so apparent. The invention does not restrict the designer or stylist in any fashion, and any handbag material that may be in fashion at the moment may be used. The usual strap arrangement may be used to provide a handle or a shoulder strap or any other usual accessory of this type may be applied without in any way being interfered with by the invention or detracting from the advantages of the invention.

I claim:

1. A handbag having non-transparent back, bottom and side end Walls and including inner transparent and outer non-transparent front Walls, said front walls having hinge means interconnecting their bottom edges and having bellows joining their side end edges, said bellows being adapted to permit said outer front wall to lie'superimposed on and substantially in contact with said inner front wall and to swing therefrom far enough to clear a line of sight transversely through substantially all portions of said inner front Wall, said inner front wall and said back. bottom and side end walls defining a boxlike enclosure adapted to contain a collection of articles and said inner front Wall being rigid enough to support said collection without substantial deformation of said inner front Wall.v

and atop ap wall adapted to close the top of said enclosureand to extend therefrom over the top edges of both of said front walls and partially over the outside of said outer front wall when the latter is superimposed on and substantially in contact with said inner front wall.

2. A handbag having non-transparent back, bottom and side end Walls and including inner transparent and outer non-transparent front walls. said front walls having hinge means in'- terconnecting their bottom edges and having bellows joining their side end edges, said bellows being adapted to permit saidouter front wall to lie superimposed on and substantially in contact with said inner front wall and to swing therefrom far enough to clear a line of sight transversely through substantially all portions of said inner front Wall, said inner front wall and said back, bottom and side end walls dening a box-like enclosure adapted to .contain a collection of articles and said inner front'wall being rigid enough to support said collection without substantial deformation of saidiinner :front wall, and a top iap Wall adapted to close the top of said enclosure and to extend therefrom over the top edges of both of said front walls and partially over the outside of said outer front Wall when the latter is superimposed on and substantially in contact with said inner front wall, said enclosure including a bottom wall surface that slants downwardly towards said inner wall so that said collection of articles is'gravitationally pressed thereagainst. WILLIAM H. CARROLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 255,420 Cunningham Mar. 28, 1882 1,169,639 Hathaway Jan. 25,` 1916 1,273,875 Kosta July 30, 1918 1,523,260 Frank Jan. 13, 1925 1,597,339 Berkowitz Aug. 24, 1926 1,607,007 Leviten et al Nov. 16, 1926 2,053,599 Brinkerhoil` Sept. 8, 193,6 2,156,875 Schwartz May 2, 1939 2,334,410 Hume Nov. 16, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,161 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1908 576,025 France May 5, 1924 

